An extension to the LDRA tool suite uses the TRACE32 Debugger to download the code being tested on the target and provide a mechanism for results capture back to the host via a one-click button added into the TRACE32 in-circuit debugger (ICD).

LDRA leverages this TRACE32 interface to perform both dynamic analysis and unit testing on targets or TRACE32 simulators.Lauterbach is the largest manufacturer of emulators and debuggers worldwide. Founded in 1979, the company has over 30 years of experience in embedded microprocessor designs and development tools. All Lauterbach products are supplied with the same TRACE32® PowerView user interface making it easy to switch between any of the TRACE32 products which are able to support all well-known processor architectures from 8-bit to 64-bit.

Integration

The LDRA tool suite can be used with the Lauterbach TRACE32 debugger and/or simulator in a number of ways depending on the needs of the user. If the Lauterbach debugger has the capability to capture a trace in real-time, then this can be utilised by the LDRA tool suite. In this case the coverage data is simply written to a single memory address and the Lauterbach debugger configured to capture all writes to this address. This allows the application to run almost at full speed, whilst at the same time requiring little memory overhead. Alternatively if a hardware trace capability is not available, then the coverage data can be streamed off as it is captured, this impacts performance, but requires little memory overhead and works for both the hardware debugger or simulator. If memory is available, then another solution is to compress the coverage data into the target RAM and then at a given point, upload it to the host. This solution provides low performance overhead, allows the application to run for an indefinite time and once more works on both hardware debugger or simulator.

Company Overview

Lauterbach is represented in all countries at the forefront of embedded design market and international sales. Besides the headquarters in Germany the company has its own branch offices in United Kingdom, in Italy and France, on the East and West Coast of the United States, in Japan and China. Highly qualified sales and support engineers are also available in many other countries. The company attaches great importance to a very high technical level and only the latest development methods are used.